SWIFT  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH

A Church That Practices Fruitful Living

——————

 RADICAL  HOSPITALITY 

‘TWO OR MORE’ FELLOWSHIP LUNCH
Thursday, Aug. 2 • 11:30 a.m.
Gulf Bowl, Captain’s Choice Grill — Juniper Street, Foley
Delicious food, reasonable prices and great conversation. Come and meet new friends.
 

BUTTERFLY GIRLS • GUYS’ NIGHT OUT
Thursday, Aug. 16 • 6:30 p.m.
Vitolli’s Pizza and Italian Eatery — 21862 State Highway 59 South, Suite A, Robertsdale

Please call or text Mary at 251-295-5267 by 4 p.m. that day if you know you’re coming so adequate table space can be reserved. (A few extra chairs will be reserved for any last-minute deciders.) Our group is growing ever since the girls and guys meet at the same place, although we sit and visit together separately.

Come join us this month. Couples or singles are welcome.

Join us and suggest new places for us to try.

 INTENTIONAL  FAITH  DEVELOPMENT 

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
A chronological study of the New Testament
Meets 9 to 9:45 a.m. on Sundays in room 2 in the annex
 

The adult Sunday school class is taking a look at the New Testament chronologically. We are studying parables and the last week of Jesus’ life. 

Our class is open to all. The welcome mat is out and we would enjoy each of you joining us as we continue our study of the New Testament.

— Cheryl Jensen and Anthony Kaiser, leaders
   

BIBLE STUDY AND FELLOWSHIP GROUPS
FOR ADULTS AT SWIFT CHURCH

We are blessed to have so many people who would like to be part of Bible study and fellowship at Swift Church. Here is a listing of the groups currently meeting. All of them are open to people visiting and/or joining the group, whether you are a member of Swift Church or not. For more information, contact the leaders or the church office.

Weekly:

• Sundays, 9 to 9:45 a.m., adult Sunday School class, room 2 in the annex, a chronological study of the New Testament, led by Cheryl Jensen and Anthony Kaiser

• Sundays, 9 to 9:45 a.m., Snacks with Susan and Daryl, fellowship hall, led by Daryl and Susan Pichoff; topic varies. The class is taking a summer hiatus. It will resume in the September with new informative topics.
 

Monthly:

• Thursdays (first Thursday of month), 11:30 a.m., “Two or More” fellowship lunch at Captain’s Choice Grill at the Gulf Bowl in Foley on Juniper Street. Contact is Lee Mansell.

• Thursdays (second Thursday of month), 1 p.m., Swift Fourth Day, fellowship hall. Bring your own sack lunch and enjoy Christian conversation. This is a new group, started by six people who attended Cursillo #36, and is open to everyone. Contact is Sue Johnson. The group is taking a summer break and will resume in September.

• Thursdays (third Thursday of month), 6:30 p.m., Butterfly Girls and Guys’ Night Out fellowship dinner at area restaurants, different place each month. Sometimes men and women eat at same restaurant at separate tables, sometimes two restaurants near one another. Contacts are Mary McNair and Daryl and Susan Pichoff.
  

Summer Bible study miniseries on faith, hope and love:

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
— 1 Corinthians 13:13

Two more separate one-session studies will be offered once each month on a Sunday and a Thursday. All are welcome. Bring your own Bible, or use one at the church, and materials will be provided at each session.

Thursdays 10 to 11:30 a.m. and/or Sundays 5 to 6:30 p.m.
The first sessions in June were on faith. Still to come:
■ Aug. 5 — Hope
■ Aug. 23 and 26 — Love
  

 MISSION  AND  SERVICE 

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
Sue Ann Lay, clerk of session

The Swift Church session met on Monday, July 16, 2018.

Pastor Keith led a time of sharing concerns and joys among the elders. Prayer followed.

Pastor Keith and the session talked about the 2019 sabbatical and possible study topics related to the needs of the church and his own growth.

✔ We received the home communion and deacons’ report.

✔ Approved standing committee reports and previous minutes.

✔ Celebrated that the youth reached their fundraising goals for 2018 and are looking toward 2019.

✔ Received the financial report.

✔ Heard a report on driveway paving. Looking at options that will give us a result sooner.

✔ Elected Chuck Carneal as commissioner to the August presbytery meeting in Mobile. (A few days later, we added Phil Melton as our second commissioner.)

✔ Heard that UKirk, campus ministry at the University of South Alabama, is seeking additional board members. Submit names of potential board members from Swift.

✔ Closed with prayer.
  

MISSION REPORT
Cathy Rogers and Al Sprouse, elders

The mission for August will be to continue Sarah Kleinschmidt’s school-supply mission for our area elementary schools. The contributions for Sarah’s mission will be donated to Elberta Elementary, where Sarah went to school.

We will continue this mission through the month, with members of the congregation bringing forward school supplies during the Sunday offering. We will give supplies donated after Aug. 1 to Foley Elementary, Swift Elementary, Gulf Shores Elementary, Summerdale Elementary and Robertsdale Elementary. School supply lists are available on school websites by choosing a school on the bcbe.org website and looking at their homepage.

■ Our tentative mission for September is the Santa Foundation. We are seeking a contact for this mission and will collect monetary contributions for this mission so that toys can be purchased for needy children in our community for Christmas.

■ We will not participate in the Peace and Global Witness offering in October.

■ Our focus for November will be to put together Thanksgiving boxes for the food pantry.

■ Our Advent mission will be focused on collecting monetary donations for the Presbyterian Home for Children in Talladega.

FOOD PANTRY: Thank you to all who faithfully contribute to our food pantry. Each and every donation is very much appreciated. We are particularly in need of the following items: rice, jelly, breakfast cereals and canned fruit. If you have excess produce from your vegetable gardens, please consider donating it to the food pantry.

There is a need for volunteers to do the grocery shopping and/or to go with Tina to pick up donations from Catholic social services. Please contact Tina Sprouse for details; (251) 510-5444. Thank you.
 

GRIEFSHARE MINISTRY
Danny and Paula Brewer, facilitators

GriefShare support group will meet each Tuesday in August from 6 to 8 p.m. in room 2 in the annex. Here are the topics and some of the questions we will be discussing:

Session 10 — Lessons of Grief (Part 1)
Session 11 — Lessons of Grief (Part 2)
Session 12 — Heaven
Session 13 — What Do I Live for Now?

What we learn about grief ...

■ An often-overlooked reason that grief is so painful
■ Why going to church can be so difficult
■ The benefits of helping others
■ Who we are now that their loved one is gone
■ Why no one grieves perfectly
■ What grief can teach us about relationships
■ What is heaven like?
■ More answers to our questions about heaven

A prayer: “Lord, We are living a new season of our lives — one we were not ready for. Our sorrow is deep and our tears seem never-ending. Emotional pain overwhelms us. Our days are difficult. Our sleepless nights are often endless. Lord, it is your love and faithfulness that will carry us through. We need your help. Help us sift through the raging rivers of our emotions — our negative thoughts, our anger and guilt. Jesus, please shine your light of hope, joy and healing into the dark corners of our mourning. Help us find a healthy balance in our lives — balance between ‘what was’ and ‘what lies ahead,’ living life one day at a time. Thank you for being our strength and comfort today. Help us to calm and quiet our souls and to rest in your peace. Thank you. Amen.”

For more information on GriefShare, go to www.griefshare.org. While you are on the site, sign up for the daily devotionals.

Know that you can always go to the Lord with your struggles. When the grief begins to overcome you, let it have its time. Putting it off does not make it go away. Take a moment to be still and silent, talk to God, and remember to “just breathe!”
  

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
Charlie Hastings, elder

If you are interested in joining the church driveway committee, please contact Charlie Hastings or Chuck Carneal. We are looking for anyone who is interested in helping coordinate and plan activities involving the widening of the entrance from Swift Church Road.
 

 EXTRAVAGANT  GENEROSITY 

YOUTH REPORT
Tara Morrow

The youth raised enough money to cover the remaining Montreat Youth Conference expenses. Thank you so much to our wonderful congregation for your generosity. More details about youth events for the year will be given after the youth/parent meeting this coming Sunday.
  

WE APPRECIATE OUR AUGUST VOLUNTEERS

---

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others,
faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10

---

GREETER/USHER TEAMS
Aug. 5 — Paula and Danny Brewer, Lee Mansell, Greg McNair
Aug. 12 — Debbie and Norm Schmidt, Kim Whitchard
Aug. 19 — Susie Alexander, Elinor Gartman, Sue Ann Lay, Lynda Walden
Aug. 26 — Lynn and Mike Barnwell, Willard Penfold, Eunice Ray

TIME WITH THE CHILDREN
Aug. 5 — Cathy Rogers
Aug. 12 — Tess Helton
Aug. 19 — Judy Walker
Aug. 26 — Pastor Keith

NURSERY VOLUNTEERS
Aug. 5 — Megan Curry and Debbie Schmidt
Aug. 12 — Jane King and Carlie Sims
Aug. 19 — Bridgit Gosa and Tess Helton
Aug. 26 — Ginny and Sarah Kleinschmidt

ACOLYTES
Aug. 5 — Diya Patterson and Saylor Morrow
Aug. 12 — Sully Curry
Aug. 19 — Jon Devery and Lainey Thomas
Aug. 26 — Zadie Grace and ZoeyLynn Barnwell

ABOUT ONLINE GIVING . . .

You may have noticed this box in your bulletin. Using your “smart phone” and this box you can connect to the church’s online giving page. You can set up for automatic donations of your tithes or one-time gifts to a number of funds benefiting ministries of Swift Church. Use this by either entering your credit/debit card information or your checking account information. Of course, this is a secure website. You can also do the same thing by clicking the donation link on the church’s website, www.swiftchurch.org.